Crossword Genius

Collier finds hollow alluvial rock (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mineral

'rock' is the definition.

'collier finds hollow alluvial' is the wordplay.
'collier' becomes 'miner' (I've seen this before).
'finds' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'hollow' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters) (the word is hollowed out).
'alluvial' with its centre removed is 'al'.
'miner'+'al'='MINERAL'

(Other definitions for mineral that I've seen before include "Substance needed for health; ore" , "Ore; soft drink" , "What drink is available in ground" , "Gypsum or magnesium, say" , "Gypsum or magnesia, say" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.
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